Green Infrastructure Plan Linking Arkansas Communities 2008-2009 Woolsey Wet Prairie Sanctuary. Photos courtesy City of Fayetteville, 2008
Topics Summary of the Project What is Green Infrastructure? Reasons to develop this Plan Existing Green Infrastructure Elements in our region What’s next? Sublett Creek draining Lake Lucille through The 14 acre Brooks-Hummel property recently acquired by City of Fayetteville with the help of Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association for park land with nature trails. Photo credit Duane Woltjen, March 2008
Project Summary: Funding 1 of 4 Pilot Study Grants awarded by USDA Forest Service to the Arkansas Forestry Commission’s Urban Forestry Program as a $25,000 matching grant to Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association in partnership with Beaver Water District
Project Summary: Objective USDA Forest Service wants to: Convene partners to identify and conserve Open Space Help private landowners conserve Open Space Help communities expand wisely to connect with Open Space Participate in community growth planning to reduce ecological impacts and fire risk In our case by supporting the development of a regional strategic conservation plan using the Green Infrastructure approach Example Green Infrastructure Plan from: Maryland’s Green Infrastructure Assessment http://www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/gi/gi.html
Project Summary: Study Area Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association, Barbara Elaine Boland, August 2008 172 mi 2 (445 km 2) area encompassing City Limits and Planning Areas of Farmington, Greenland, Johnson, & Fayetteville and the Ozark National Forest, Wedington Wildlife Management Unit with adjacent unincorporated areas of Washington County.
What is Green Infrastructure? A strategic conservation planning approach Long-term Highly collaborative Science supported decision making Green Infrastructure Planning focuses on the interaction of lands to be developed and conserved and optimizes land use to meet the needs of both people and nature, through consideration of economic, ecological, and cultural factors as guidelines for growth.
What is Green Infrastructure? “Infrastructure: the substructure or underlying foundation…on which the continuance and growth of a community or state depends.” Webster’s New World Dictionary Like roads, Green Infrastructure elements are not just amenities, they are necessities. Potential Elements that may constitute our Green Infrastructure Network Existing parks and trails Proposed parks and trails Public and private conserved areas Working lands with environmental value Wetlands and Prairies Riparian zones Historical sites Sensitive Karst recharge areas Diagram credited to Conservation Resource Alliance, Michigan, in Green Highly rated sites from the Infrastructure – Linking Landscapes and Communities, 2006. Urban Forest Conservation Assessment for Fayetteville
What is Green Infrastructure? Hallmarks of the approach: Ensures that both green space and development are placed where most needed and appropriate Enables conservation and development to be planned in harmony, not in opposition to each other Enables a region’s communities to create a vision that is greater than the sum of its parts Identifies vital ecological areas and linkages prior to development in suburban and rural landscapes Identifies opportunities for the restoration and enhancement of naturally functioning systems in already developed areas From: “Green Infrastructure: Smart Conservation for the 21 st Century,” by Mark Benedict and Ed McMahon.
Compelling Reasons to Plan for Retention of Green Infrastructure General Economic, Social, and Environmental Benefits Closer to Home: Land Use Land Cover changes Loss of crop land and pasturage Changes in the forests Water issues Growth projections Existing Green Infrastructure Elements
General Economic Benefits Increase land values Hiking & biking top amenities for home buyers Park proximity increases home values 15-20% Attract businesses & increase tax base Proctor & Gamble, CaseStack, Bio-Based Technologies Support leisure & tourism industries by maintaining water quality of local lakes, rivers & streams for boating, swimming, fishing, skiing, & camping Streamline permitting processes for Development thus saving time and money
General Social Benefits State of AR recommends the creation of walking & biking trails for reduction of obesity Provides healthy activity options and improves quality of life within communities Walking, hiking, biking, family outings Free-ranging childhood exploration Physical activity, stress reduction, spiritual renewal Reduce obesity, improve mental & physical health Preserves cultural uniqueness
General Environmental Benefits Comprehensive mapping will identify issues and assist with coordination of environmental projects Water quality and abundance Sensitive Karst groundwater recharge areas Stormwater runoff Example: Increasing forest cover from 27% to 40% Fayetteville estimated to increase environmental benefit from $92 million to $135 million in stormwater containment (American Forests, 2002) Loss of open lands & crop and pasture lands In US 6,000 acres of open space are lost DAILY Fragmented habitats Healthy habitats require sufficient area and corridors that join them Recent Announcement: Arkansas Game & Fish, Region 10, new Wildlife Management Area in NW Arkansas formed in part to deal with habitat loss due to sprawl
Closer to Home: Land Use Land Cover Change 1992 – 2004 – 2006 1992 2004 Agriculture/Grassland Urban/Commercial 2006 Forest/Woodland Water Barren Data source: GeoStor: 1992 National Land Cover Dataset, 2004 Land Use Land Cover, 2006 Land Use Land Cover
Closer to Home: Change in Urban Coverage 1992-2004 4.5%/12 yrs = .4%/yr 1992 2004-2006 6.9% of area 4.0%/2 yrs = 2%/yr 2004 11.4% of area 2006 15.4% of area
Closer to Home: Loss of cropland & pasturage In Washington County 182,578 182,578 acr acres es in in cr crops ops and pas and pastur ture 2.3% 2.3% los loss = = -4,203 acr 4,203 acres es 178,375 178,375 acr acres es in in cr crops ops and pas and pastur ture 4.3% los 4.3% loss = = -7,752 acr 7,752 acres es 1992 170,623 acr 170,623 acres es in in cr crops ops and pas and pastur ture Projected ojected 8% 8% los loss =-13,650 acr 13,650 acres es 1997 Projected ojected 156,973 acr 156,973 acres es 2002 in in cr crops ops and pas and pastur ture 2007 Data Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, Agricultural Census, 2002. 2007 figures expected before year end.
Closer to Home: Changes in Tree Coverage 1985 – 2000 In Fayetteville 18.3% decline in Heavy Canopy (2,525 to 2,130 acres = -395 acres) An indicator of ecological change resulting from urban development 40% increase in Moderate Canopy (240 to 336 acres = 96 acres) 3% increase in Low Canopy (24,550 to 25,207 acres = 657 acres) Data Source: Urban Ecosystem Analysis Benton & Washington Counties, Arkansas: Calculating the Value of Nature, American Forest, Inc., September, 2002
Closer to Home: Tree Coverage Decline trends Data Source: Urban Ecosystem Analysis Benton & Washington Counties, Arkansas: Calculating the Value of Nature, American Forest, Inc., September, 2002
Closer to Home: Tree Coverage Benefits Data Source: Urban Ecosystem Analysis Benton & Washington Counties, Arkansas: Calculating the Value of Nature, American Forest, Inc., September, 2002
Closer to Home: Water Issues Illinois River Preliminary Hydrologic Map watershed Benton Co. Washington Co. Beaver Lake Watershed Map Elements Rivers & Streams Impaired Streams Drainage Ditches Dams (>25ft high) Watershed boundary Study Area Boundary
Closer to Home: Water Issues Nutrient Surplus Areas in NW Arkansas M i s s o u r i Beaver Lake Illinois River Watershed Beaver Lake Watershed Washington County Cities of Greenland, Farmington, Johnson, and Fayetteville Upper Arkansas River Watershed
Closer to Home: Growth Predictions Washington County Population Statistics Census 2000 157,715 Estimate 2007 194,292 Projected 2015 221,548
Some of the available Data
Preliminary Map – Green Infrastructure Network (Public Elements) Ozark Hwy 265 National I-540 Hwy 71 Forest Wedington Johnson Wildlife Management Unit Hwy 45 Hwy 16 Fayetteville Farmington Map Elements Hwy 16 Existing Trails Pig Trail Proposed Trails Parks Greenland Heritage Trails Hwy 62 Pig-Trail Scenic Byway Major Roads Study Area Boundary Cemeteries Hwy 265 Points of Interest Hwy 71 I-540
Summary This planning method can provide a strategic, science-based, well-accepted planning tool for coordinating both conservation of natural resources and encouragement of appropriate growth. The timing is perfect to prepare for the next wave of growth in NW Arkansas
Next Steps Public Meeting Farmington Public Meeting Fayetteville Public Meeting Johnson Public Meeting Fayetteville Public Meeting Greenland Public Meeting Fayetteville Design Team Public Meeting Fayetteville
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